Bicycle.



Patented Dec. 3|, I90l.

F. H. PIERSUN.

- BICYCLE.

(Application; filed Mar. 18, 1901.)

- 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

Nu. 6%,180. Patented Dec. 3|, I901.

F. H. PIERSON.

' BICYCLE.

Application filed Mar. 18, 1901.) (,No Model.) 2 Shaets$heet 2.

lll lllllllllllll lllllll llll m 'lfllllllllllllllllln' UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRODE Il. PIERSON, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

BICYCLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 690,180, dated December 31, 1901. Application filed March 18, 1901. Serial No. 51,708. (No model- To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRODE H. PIERSON, a subject of the King of Sweden and Norway, and a resident of New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new Improvement in Bicycles; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and theletters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in-

Figure 1, a side View of a bicycle constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2, a broken sectional view of the operating mechanism thereof; Fig. 3, a broken side View illustrating the mechanism for coupling the handlebars with the driving mechanism; Fig. 4, a broken front view illustrating the connection between the handle-bars and the crank; Fig. 5, a broken top view of the head, showing recess for the locking-latch; Fig. 6, a broken front view illustrating the clutchoperating rod outside the head.

This invention relates to an improvement in bicycles, and particularly to that class in which the handle-bars are connected with the driving mechanism, whereby power may be derived bot-h through the pedals and by an up-and-down movement of the handle-bars, the object of the invention being a simple arrangement whereby the parts are generally concealed and which may be thrown into and out of operation and so that the downward movement of the handle-bar through which the power is exerted may be made in time with eitherof the pedals; and the invention consists in the construction as hereinafter described, and particularly recited in the claims.

As herein shown, the invention is applied to a safety-bicycle of ordinary construction, comprising a head A, lower brace B, crankhanger O, and pedal-shaft D, through which power is imparted to the rear wheel either by sprocket-wheels and chain, as shown, or by the well-known bevel-gear, such mechanism forming no part of this invention. Where the tubular brace B joins the head A a socket connection E is formed for the purpose as will hereinafter appear.

Upon the pedal-shaft D is a bevel-gear F, meshing with a bevel-gear G, mounted on the end of a shaft H, which extends through the tubular brace 13 and into the socket E, where it may be supported by a bracket I or in any other suitable way. Upon this shaft and keyed thereto. is a sleeve J, having a flange K, from which pins L L project forward. Also mounted on the shaft is a collar M, formed in its rear face with recesses m m, adapted to set over the pins L L and so that the collar may be coupled with the sleeve. This sleeve is free to slide on the shaft and may be moved back and forth thereon by means of a bell-crank lever N, one end of which extends into a groove 0, formed in the collar. This bell-crank lever N is mounted in the socket E, and its opposite end projects into the head A, where it is coupled with an operating-rod P. Secured to the collar is an eccentric crank-arm Q, to the outer end of which a link R is'secured, the said link extending upward and attached to the handlebar S by a clamp T. The handle-bars are mounted on a pin a, projecting rearward from the upper end of a handle-bar post U, and in the upper end of the post a latch V is pivoted, as at b, and to this latch the operatingrod P is connected and so that the upward movement of the latch will lift the rod and operate the bell-crank lever N. The rear end of this latch sets into a notch W, formed in the handle-bars, whereby the handle-bars may be locked in the horizontal position. Preferably a small spring 01 will be arranged beneath the outer end of the latch, the tendency of which is to throw it to its closed position.

The operation of the device is as follows: With the latch thrown down, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the handlebars are locked in their horizontal position and the crank on the shaft 11 out of engagement with the shaft, so that the wheel may be driven in the usual manner by the pedals. When it is desired to use additional power, the latch V is lifted, which moves the operating-rod P upward and turns the bell-crank lever N, throwing the collar M rearward, so that the recesses m m, set over the pins L L, carried by the sleeve, which is pinned to the shaft 11, and the movement of the wheel will cause the handle-bars to rock. Then power applied to the handle will be imparted through the shaft to the pedal-cranks, and this power may be exerted by the rocking of the handles in time with either of the pedals. Thus when the pins L L engage, respectively,with the recesses m m, the downward movement of the handle-bar on one side will be exerted with the downward movement of one of the pedals; but if the pins L L are engaged, respectively, with the notches m m the downward movement of the handle-bar operating the crank will be in time with the downward movement of the op posite pedal. When it is desired to disconnect the handle-bars from the driving mechanism, it is only necessary to turn the latch V downward, which will move the collaront ofengagement with the sleeve, and when the handle-bars come to a horizontal position the end of the latch will drop into the recesses W in the handle-bars and lock them in the horizontal position.

It is evident that various clutches may be arranged upon the driving-shaft to couple the crank therewith, and I do not wish to be understood as limiting the invention to the exact construction shown.

WhileI prefer to operate the collar by a rod extending downward through the head,

such connection may be made outside the head without departing from my invention. Thus in Fig. 6 of the drawings I- have shown the rod P, the upper end of which is connected with the latch V, as extending downward outside of the head A into engagement with the bell-crank lever N, by which the collarM is moved in substantially the same manner as in the construction first referred to.

I am aware that bicycle-handles have been coupled with cranks mounted in position to drive a shaft which extends into engagement with gears on the pedal-shaft and therefore do not wish to be understood as claiming, broadly, such as my invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a bicycle, the combination with the pedal-shaft, of a driving-shaft geared thereto, a crank loosely mounted on the said drivingshaft to slide thereon and adapted to be coupled therewith, pivotally-m ounted handlebars and connection between the handle-bars and the crank, and means for throwing the crank into and out of engagement with the driving-shaft, substantially as described.

2. In a bicycle, the combination with the pedal crank-shaft a bevel-gear mounted thereon, a shaft geared with said pedal-shaft, a sleeve on said shaft having forwardly-extending pins, a collar also mounted on said shaft and having recesses adapting the collar to be coupled with said sleeve, a crank secured to said collar, pivotally-mounted handle-bars and connection between the handlebars and the crank, a latch adapted to lock the handle-bars in a horizontal position, and connections between the latch and the collar, whereby the collar may be coupled with the sleeve by the movement of the said latch, substantially as described.

3. In a bicycle, the combination with the crank-hanger and crank-shaftmou nted there= in, of a bevel-gear on the said crank-shaft, a driving-shaft extending through the lower brace of the frame and having a bevel-gear in connection with the said gear on the crankshaft, a crank mounted on the said shaft, and adapted to be coupled therewith, pivotallymounted handle-bars and connection between said handle-bars and crank, a latch adapted shaft and adapted to be coupled therewith, a

bell-crank lever mounted in said socket and having one arm in engagement with the crank j and the other extending into the said head,

pivotally-connected handle-bars, and connections between the handle-bars and the said crank, a latch pivoted to the upper end of the handle-bar post, and adapted to lock the handle-bars in a-horizontal position, and an operating-rod connected with said latch and extending downward through the head into engagement with the bell-crank lever, substantially as described' In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. I

FRODE l-I. PIERSON.

\Vitnesses:

FREDERIO O. EARLE, LILLIAN D. KELSEY. 

